544 THE STORY OF MY LIFE [1850
Upon leaving Keeles (Jreig, 1 joined my mother, and went with her to St. Andrews, whieh 1 had always greatly desired that she should see. Kven more than the wonderful charm of the place at this time was that of seeing much of the genial, witty, eccentric Provost, Sir Hugh Lyon I'layfair. He first came up to nu1 when I was drawing — an old man in a cloak-—and invited me* into his garden, whither we returned several times. That garden was the most extraordinary place, representing all the important facts of the history of the world, from chaos and the creation of the snn down to the Reform Bill, "whence," said Sir Hugh, "you may dale the decline of the British Empire," On the same chart were marked the lengths of all the principal ships, while representations of the planets indicated their distance! from the sun! No verbal description, however, can recall the genial oddity of the garden's owner. On Saturdays he used to open his garden to the public, and follow in the* crowd to hear their opinion to himself. Ho saul they would often say, ** Ah! the poor Provost, he! has more* money than brains; he is sadly deficient here,'* pointing to the forehead. Once some of the people mud to him, " Wo do so want to see the Provost; how would it bo possible to nee Sir Hugh?*1 — "Oh," he answered, " I think you had better go and look in at the windows, and you will be sure to HOO him/* So they all crowded of the windows, but there wan no one to bo soon. " Oh," lie said, u I '11 tell you why that LH : that is because he is under the table. It in a way Sir Hugh has. He is so dreadfully shy, that whenever ho hears any one coming, heto continue in a subterranean passage to Laurwton. The drummer of Lauriston once went up it, and tried to work hm way through, but ho never wu« w»t*n again ; and at night, it is said, that the drummer of LaurUton in atili heard beating his drum in this cavern881.e better loved for his peculiarities.